Almost a century
ago the President of the United States addressed to the Emperor of Japan a
message extending an offer of friendship of the people of the United States to
the people of Japan. That offer was accepted, and in the long period of
unbroken peace and friendship which has followed, our respective nations,
through the virtues of their peoples and the wisdom of their rulers have prospered
and have substantially helped humanity.

Only in
situations of extraordinary importance to our two countries need I address to
Your Majesty messages on matters of state. I feel I should now so address you
because of the deep and far-reaching emergency which appears to be in
formation.

Developments are
occurring in the Pacific area which threaten to deprive each of our nations and
all humanity of the beneficial influence of the long peace between our two
countries. These developments contain tragic possibilities.

The people of
the United States, believing in peace and in the right of nations to live and
let lives have eagerly watched the con­versations between our two Governments
during these past months. We have hoped for a termination of the present
conflict between Japan and China. We have hoped that a peace of the Pacific
could be consummated in such a way that nationalities of many diverse peoples
could exist side by side without fear of invasion; that unbearable burdens of
armaments could be lifted for them all; and that all peoples would resume
commerce without discrimination against or in favor of any nation.

I am certain
that it will be clear to Your Majesty, as it is to me, that in seeking these
great objectives both Japan and the United States should agree to eliminate any
form of military threat. This seemed essential to the attainment of the high
objectives.

More than a year
ago Your Majesty's Government concluded an agreement with the Vichy Government
by which five or six thousand Japanese troops were permitted to enter into Northern
French Indo­china for the protection of Japanese troops which were operating
against China further north. And this Spring and Summer the Vichy Government
permitted further Japanese military forces to enter into Southern French
Indochina for the common defense of French Indochina. I think I am correct in
saying that no attack has been made upon Indochina, nor that any has been
contemplated.

During the past
few weeks it has become clear to the world that Japanese military, naval and
air forces have been sent to Southern Indo‑China in such large numbers as
to create a reasonable doubt on the part of other nations that this continuing
concentration in Indo­china is not defensive in its character.

Because these
continuing concentrations in Indo‑China have reached such large
proportions and because they extend now to the southeast and the southwest
corners of that Peninsula, it is only reasonable that the people of the
Philippines, of the hundreds of Islands of the East Indies, of Malaya and of
Thailand itself are asking themselves whether these forces of Japan are
preparing or intending to make attack in one or more of these many directions.

I am sure that
Your Majesty will understand that the fear of all these peoples is a legitimate
fear in as much as it involves their peace and their national existence. I am
sure that Your Majesty will under­stand why the people of the United States in
such large numbers look askance at the establishment of military, naval and air
bases manned and equipped so greatly as to constitute armed forces capable of
measures of offense.

It is clear that
a continuance of such a situation is unthinkable.

None of the
peoples whom have spoken of above can sit either indefinitely or permanently on
a keg of dynamite.

There is
absolutely no thought on the part of the United States of invading Indo‑China
if every Japanese soldier or sailor were to be withdrawn therefrom.

I think that we
can obtain the same assurance from the Govern­ments of the East Indies, the
Governments of Malaya and. the Gov­ernment of Thailand. I would even undertake
to ask for the same assurance on the part of the Government of China. Thus a
with­drawal of the Japanese forces from Indo‑China would result in the
assurance of peace throughout the whole of the South Pacific area.

I address myself
to Your Majesty at this moment in the fervent hope that Your Majesty may, as I
am doing, give thought in this definite emergency to ways of dispelling the
dark clouds. I am confident that both of us, for the sake of the peoples not
only of our own great countries but for the sake of humanity in neighboring
territories, have a sacred duty to restore traditional amity and prevent
further death and destruction in the world.

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

[94] This message was
transmitted in telegram 818, Dec. 6, 1941, 9 p.m., to the Ambassador in Japan
(Grew), under instructions to communicate the President’s message to the
Japanese Emperor in such manner as deemed most appropriate by the Ambassador
and at the earliest possible moment, addressed to "His Imperial Majesty,
the Emperor of Japan". The telegram added that the press was being
informed that the President was dispatching a message to the Emperor.

(PEACE AND WAR, UNITED STATES FOREIGN
POLICY 1931-1941,UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICEWASHINGTON:
1943)